Page 55 of Forced Plus-Size Mate

I open my eyes to see Gina getting up and shoving Body into the seat next to me. “I sure am,” she laughs. “You kids have fun.”

I sit up and lean over to give Body a quick kiss. He tastes like beer and smells like steak, a tantalizing combination that makes my mouth water.

“Did you have fun dancing?” he asks.

“I really did,” I say, leaning on him. I’m not sure if he knows, but I was too self-conscious to dance much in high school. I felt like a dumpy little nerd, and I’d embarrass myself if I tried to bust a move.

Now I don’t give a damn. All I want to do is have fun, and I can’t believe I wasted so much of my life caring about what other people think.

“Did you have fun with the boys?” I ask.

“Yeah,” he replies. “But we just drank and played a bit of darts. Nothing too exciting.”

“Did Jenks kick your ass again?”

“Yup. I don’t know how he can even see the board. He’s more than halfway through a bottle of Kentucky.”

I lean against Body, giggling. The troubles of the day have melted from my mind, and I feel completely relaxed and fulfilled in a way I never have before.

Returning to one of those spaces where I didn’t seem to fit and making it my own has healed a wound in me I didn’t even know I had.

“Hey,” Body mutters, his lips brushing my cheek. “Do you want to go and fool around in the garden, like we used to?”

His words trigger a violent response in me, threatening the peace I’d only just found.

“No,” I say firmly. “I want to fool around right here.”

“Okay,” Body agrees, putting down his drink. He pulls me close to him and kisses me, slowly and gently at first, then with rising intensity.

I’m almost in his lap when I push him away and slide back on my lounger. He looks up with a confused expression.

Poor boy. He’s so drunk, I shouldn’t be playing with him, but it’s not like I’m exactly clear-headed, either.

“What?” he says.

“You come over here,” I say, waving him over.

I don’t want it to feel like I’m chasing him. I want him to want me right here, in front of everyone.

Yeah. It’s potentially immature, but I’m just going to own that.

Body eagerly jumps over to my lounger, snuggling up beside me and wrapping his arms around me. The warmth of his body, his breath on my neck, and his hard grip thrill me, satisfying a deep need for validation I was afraid to admit I needed.

Nothing like a few cruisers to exorcise teenage trauma.

“Hmm,” Body murmurs as he snuggles in even tighter, kissing my neck. “I’m so sorry, Amanda. I’m sorry I made you feel bad. But I’m sorry to myself as well.”

“Oh, yeah?” I chuckle. “This one’s going to be good.”

“Yeah,” he says with complete innocence. “I missed out on so much time with you. When I look back now, that’s all I can see. I was so tense and freaked out all the time, trying to do the ‘right’ thing and dodge my parents. Meanwhile, I was just staring at you, wishing to high hell that I could be with you.”

“Oh, Body,” I whisper, stroking his hair. “I really didn’t know how much pain it caused you or how badly you wanted me. If I had, I wouldn’t have left.”

“No,” he says, suddenly serious and sitting up so he can look into my eyes. “You had to! I deserved it, totally. You needed to grow into a strong woman, one who didn’t need a pitiful pup like me. I’m glad you punished me.”

“That’s not why I did it, but okay,” I say with a grin.

“Seriously,” Body says, looking right into my eyes. “I deserved it. I really did.”

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